UTSA narrowly avoids worst loss of first season

UC Davis player, #12, Charles Boyett tackles UTSA player, #82, David Morgan during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UC Davis player, #17, Randy Wright breaks up a pass intended for UTSA player, #82, David Morgan in the second half, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #14, Triston Wade throws down UC Davis player, #35, Alex Hines during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA quarterback, #8, Eric Soza talks to players near the end of the game as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 defeat the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #76, Josh Walker sits on thew sidelines near the end of their loss to the UC Davis Aggies 38-17, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker looks on near the end of the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker looks on near the end of the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker looks on near the end of the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UC Davis player, #3, Jonathan Calhoun tackles UTSA player, #83, Mike Wilburn during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA fan Sigbrit Bakke (CQ) celebrate their second touchdown during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #18, Kenny Harrison catches the ball in the endzone during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #14, Triston Wade celebrates his fumble recovery during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #8, Eric Soza throws the ball over UC Davis player, #42, Bobby Erskine during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #8, Eric Soza gets up after a sack during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #8, Eric Soza throws the ball during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #17, Erik Brown loses his hemet as he tackles UC Davis player, #20, Colton Silveria during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

UC Davis player, #81, Anthony Soto makes a catch and then short touchdown run over UTSA player, #24, Darrien Starling during second half action, during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #25, Mark Waters walks past Aggies players celebrating their touchdown during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves sits on the sidelines in the fourth quarter during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UC Davis player, #11, Jonathan Perkins breaks up a pass intended for UTSA player, #41, CheRod Simpson during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #17, Erik Brown loses his hemet as he tackles UC Davis player, #20, Colton Silveria during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #45, Marlon Smith blocks a field goal attempt during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #20, Mauricio Sanchez loses his helmet as he tackles UC Davis player, #7, Austin Edmonson during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves tackles UC Davis player, #83, Michael Cody during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UC Davis player, #20, Colton Silveria dives for a touchdown as he drags UTSA player, #17, Erik Brown and UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #23, John Walker III knocks down a pass during second half action, as the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #44, Steven Kurfehs sits injured on the sidelines as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #8, Eric Soza is sacked by UC Davis player, #11, Jonathan Perkins as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves puts pressure on UC Davis player, #17, Randy Wright in the endzone as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

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UTSA player, #43, Cody Rogers celebrate a tackle after a kickoff as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

DAVIS, Calif. — Playing back in his home state, UTSA linebacker Brandon Reeves was greeted after UC Davis' 38-17 conquest of the Roadrunners by a large contingent of family and friends.

Though the impromptu reunion helped, it did not relieve nearly enough of the sting from UTSA's fifth loss in six games.

“It's great to be home,” said Reeves, who had a team-high nine tackles. “I just wish we won.”

The Roadrunners' chances withered under the warm California sun, undone by their own sloppiness — a recurring theme during this inaugural season — and a complete effort from Davis (2-4), which amassed 455 yards and 25 first downs and limited UTSA to three points until the final quarter.

It started out well enough, with UTSA (2-5) taking a 3-0 lead through the first 15 minutes.

But even that was an ill omen; the Roadrunners had been forced to settle for a field goal, yet again, after a promising drive stalled deep in enemy territory thanks largely to an unforced error.

In this case, UTSA drove from its own 1 to the Davis 11 before quarterback Eric Soza fumbled an option pitch on second down. The Roadrunners recovered, but the loss of yardage effectively ended the drive.

There's no telling whether a touchdown would have made any impact on the outcome, but it certainly wouldn't have hurt.

“If I don't fumble that pitch,” Soza said, “then we walk (into the end zone), and we've got our swag back, we've got confidence. Settling for three points, that was big. We can't do that.”

The Aggies took full advantage, smothering UTSA with 38 unanswered points from midway through the second quarter until early in the fourth.

The Roadrunners did manage to avoid their worst loss of the season with two late touchdowns, pushing the margin just below their 45-22 defeat at Southern Utah on Sept. 17.

It was mostly cosmetic, however. UTSA had failed to build on its previous performance, in which the Roadrunners came achingly close to their most complete game of the year before falling to South Alabama in double overtime.

Indeed, defensive coordinator Neal Neathery said he was struggling to think of many positives after Davis quarterback Randy Wright threw for 320 yards, and the Aggies were able to grind out just enough yards on the ground to keep UTSA honest.

“You want to shut down at least one aspect, and we couldn't do either,” he said. “We've got to get better, and we didn't do that this week, at least not (on game day). We've had something to hang our hat on every week, win or lose, and that was not the case.”

Counterpart Travis Bush will have an equal amount of soul searching after his unit, despite its moments of productivity, again struggled with inconsistency and miscues — the earmarks of immaturity.

“We're not in a position with our youth that we can miss opportunities, or give them anything, and expect to win,” he said. “We have to be almost perfect, and we need some breaks.”

Neither came close to happening Saturday.

And so the Roadrunners enter the first of their two open dates, needing to recharge as much mentally almost as they do physically. Four scholarship players were left home with injuries, and an additional three, including defensive stalwart Steven Kurfehs, were knocked out of the game.

Even so, Reeves said the Roadrunners haven't lost their confidence or their resolve. Yet.

“We're coming back from these losses and having great weeks of practice,” he said. “Unfortunately, the wins aren't showing. We'll start finishing games. Hopefully.”